Playing with the gar in the pond this evening,
the drag on my ulralight spinning reel started to stutter.
When using light tackle, the drag has to operate smoothly,
or else the line snaps. Its an easy fix, takes about 5 minutes.

Remove the reel from the rod




Unscrew the drag cap from the spool,
and remove the spool from the reel spindle.




Pry the retaining clip out of it's groove, but not out of the spool.
It's a spring, it'll pop loose and disappear across the room.




Using a needlenose plier rotate the clip in, up and out.
This way you control the spring and it won't escape.




Removing the drag washers one at a time, in sequence,
lay them out in order of removal, and in position of removal




Wipe each washer and the interior of the spool clean.
Remembering which side of each washer is up!




I apply a drop of silicon reel lube to my fingertip and coat each drag washer very lightly
as I reinstall it back into the spool's drag well, in the reverse order of it's removal.
Last out, first back in. Even the felt washers get a dab of lube.
The lube just coats the washers, not soaks them or drips.


Once all the washers are reinstalled, the wire clip is pressed back in




And seated back into the retention groove.




Rotate and slide the spool back onto the spindle and thread the drag cap back in place.




Snug the drag cap, but not tight, ready for next fishing trip.
When using light tackle on fairly large fish, the drag has to feed line
smooth and easy, or the sudden surges from the fish will pop the line.

from the sound of the title i thought for a minute we were going to see another side of brett that we've never seen 

southboundchicken wrote on Aug 24^th, 2009 at 7:52am:

That's just wrong on so many levels.
I prefer this kind of drag.

Canoeman wrote on Aug 24^th, 2009 at 10:12am:



hahahaha, lookin' kinda sexy cept for those hairy arm pits

My question is: Why in the world is that picture on Canoeman's Photobucket!


On a serious note though some drags are designed to be dry; adding any lube may severely hamper performance.  Please consult your owners manual.

Yep, last years Rocky Horror at the Florida Theatre. Now that that's been established, let's look at something we can better appreciate.

Brett - Good post.  Was always reluctant to take that thing apart.

Gramps - Good point about the lubricant.  Checked my manuals, they don't say.  Now what?  BTW - I never lubricated mine.

Canoeman - Stay out there on the outback and away from these kind of bars.  But thanks for the last post.  Nice.  Friends of yours?

Kemo